Wardrobe Crush Wednesday: Ava DuVernay

Posted on February 18, 2015

Every year us rabid fashionistas spend hours scouring the internet during awards season trying to soak up all of the red carpet slayage that happens between January and March. For many years the brown girl fashion bug was left with few options to ‘ooh and ahh’ over when it came to award show broadcasts and internet recaps. I mean, there was the big Halle moment back in 2002 when she floated down the red carpet at the Oscars in that magical, ‘fairytale meets fierce’ Elie Saab gown. There have also been many, many, moments from shows like the Grammy’s and the MTV awards. But, if we’re talking over the top glam and straight up couture fabulousness – it’s Hollywood that serves it annully. Last year Lupita Nyong’o became a darling of the red carpet and strutted her way into the Black Girl Magic hall of fame with her wonderful array of ensembles. However, this year, with the whirlwind release of the critically acclaimed SELMA film and a slew of accolades for her superb writing and directing, Ava DuVernay is not just winning behind the scenes anymore – she is also slaying the red carpet. I’m not sure how many people actually noticed, but Ms. Ava has been snatched and laid for every single premiere, screening and award ceremony she has attended. Every one. And as an over 40 fashionista, I have to say I am gah-gah over the idea of this gorgeous, 42-year old, bombshell who takes no prisoners in both work and play.

DuVernay’s sultry red carpet looks may come as a bit of a surprise to avid fans. She is known for wearing, what she describes as her “director’s uniform” while on set and normally plays down her gorgeous looks. In a 2013 address to the LA Film Independent Forum she described the uniform in detail, including a good pair of glasses and a hipster tee shirt. In fact, she described the shoes like this:

“You wanna keep them comfy. [There’s a] lot of talk about shoes. Folks talk about different brands, and different pads they might use. A gaffer on a shoot talked about a brand called Casual Cool. You know where you get em? Rite Aid. These shoes are from Rite Aid. My grandmother loves them, because they’re not fashionable, but they are comfy. The worst thing to do is to be on set [and] to not be uncomfortable — even if you have to rock nursing shoes from Rite Aid.”

Check out some of the flawless outfits DuVernay has served this season. There is nothing about any of these that says Rite Aid.

SELMA premiere in New York

Golden Globe Awards, 2015

AFI Fest Premiere of SELMA

London Premiere of SELMA

Berlin Premiere of SELMA with film co-stars David Oleyowo and Colman Domingo

Selma, AL premiere of SELMA film (Umm, can we discuss those *curves* please? Eh, em…42 bishes)